On April 8, 2012, OMB approved changes
to this Information Collection Request (ICR) in conjunction with
recent rulemaking resulting in a final rule published on February
21, 2012 (the 2012 H-2B Final Rule). 77 FR 10038. All comments,
documents, and forms related to the ICR approved in conjunction
with the 2012 H-2B Final Rule can be found on http://omb.report.
However, a lawsuit was brought in Federal court in the Northern
District of Florida, Pensacola Division, against the Department and
an order was issued on April 26, 2012 by the court enjoining the
Department from implementing the 2012 H-2B Final Rule. (Bayou Lawn
& Landscape Services, et al. v. Hilda L. Solis, et al.,
12-cv-00183-RV-CJK.) The rule was never implemented. The Department
has stated that for the present time employers should file their
H-2B labor certification applications under the Labor Certification
Process and Enforcement for Temporary Employment in Occupations
Other Than Agriculture or Registered Nursing in the United States
(H-2B Workers), and Other Technical Changes, 73 FR 78020, Dec. 19,
2008 (the 2008 H-2B Rule). The Department found it necessary to
revert back to the information collection instruments used in this
collection prior to the 2012 H-2B Final Rule. The Department
received emergency approval to do so from OMB on April 27, 2012 and
the ICR now expires on October 31, 2012. The Department has
recently sought notice and comment on the further extension of the
appropriate forms, but separating them out by program and function
into three ICRs. DOL is seeking to use the forms appropriate to the
H-2B program from those that were part of 1205-0466 prior to the
2012 H-2B rulemaking. The ETA 9142, H-2B Application for Temporary
Employment Certification and Appendix B.1, will now be housed in
this information collection request. The Department is taking this
opportunity to separate out the three different ICs that were
formerly all contained in 1205-0466 as well as discontinue
1205-0404 by merging it into the new 1205-0466. Specifically,
1205-0466 will contain forms and most regulatory information
collection requirements applicable to the H-2A program. The ETA
Form 9142A and Appendix A.2 (to now be referred to only as Appendix
A) will be known as the ETA Form 9142A, H-2A Application for
Temporary Employment Certification and Appendix A. Because
1205-0404 is a small ICR having to do specifically with the
notification requirements of the 50 percent rule in the H-2A
program, it will be merged with the new 1205-0466. This ICR, will
contain forms and most regulatory information collection
requirements applicable to the H-2B program. The ETA Form 9142 and
Appendix B.1 (to now be referred to only as Appendix B) will be
known as the ETA Form 9142B, H-2B Application for Temporary
Employment Certification and Appendix B.
The new IC "Attestation for
Employers in the Seafood Industry" is required by the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2014 and created a slight increase in burden
hours and costs.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.